Madinah receives thousands of pilgrims

December 1, 2009

Thousands of pilgrims have arrived in Madinah to pay homage to the Prophet Muhammad after completing their five-day Hajj rituals in Makkah and the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, Arab News reported today. The Ministry of Hajj and all other concerned organizations have completed preparations to receive the pilgrims and provide them with necessary services. More than 800,000 pilgrims visited Madinah before the Hajj, according to the report.

Muhammad Al-Bijawi, the ministry’s director in Madinah, said the reception and departure centers for air, sea and land pilgrims, the surveillance and follow-up committees, the operations center, the Private Establishment of Guides and the General Syndicate of Cars are all ready to accommodate the guests as they prepare to depart the Kingdom.

Dr. Khaled Yasin, Director of Health Affairs in Madinah, said his department would extend medical services to the visitors through a number of general hospitals and permanent and seasonal health centers set up along the roads leading into and out of the city. “Apart from general hospitals working around the clock, there are more than 10 seasonal health centers around the Prophet’s Mosque operating for more than 16 hours a day,” he said.